The Many Views of Abraham & Family

1. The Many Views of Abraham & Family Eric Armann, Sean Jellison, Jessica Paul, Gillian St. John & Karen Waldmann Scripture 19; Religions of the Book Winter Quarter 2007 Section 2, Group 4

2. Who Is Abraham?

3. Quick Facts • Born Abram • Born in Ur (Mesopotamia, modern day Iraq) • Born approximately 4,000 years ago • Married to Sarai • Two main sons: Isaac and Ishmael

4. Family Tree

5. Sarai • Abraham’s wife • Terah’s daughter-in-law • Also Abraham’s half-sister • Originally childless • Gives birth to Isaac • Name changed to Sarah • Is buried in Hebron

6. Hagar • Sarah’s Egyptian slave-girl • Abraham’s concubine • Gives birth to Ishmael

7. Hagar and Sarah in Christianity & Judaism • Sarah banishes Hagar • Hagar runs away pregnant • Angel of the Lord appears to Hagar • God speaks promises to Hagar • Hagar returns to Abraham • Conflict arises again between Sarah and Hagar during weaning of Isaac • Hagar again is banished • God saves Ishmael • Ishmael’s tribes are believed to be the modern day Arabs

8. Hagar and Sarah in Islam • Some believe that Hagar was banished to Makka • Hagar and Ishmael remain in Makka • The descendants of Ishmael flourish there • These descendents led to the prophet Muhammad

9. Keturah • Second wife of Abraham, after the death of Sarah (Gen. 25:1-6). • Midrash says Keturah = Hagar • Biblically she has six sons • Ishbak, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Shuah, Zimran • Midian’s descendants, the Midianites, are the most famous people of this lineage (Exodus 2:11-22) and (Numbers 22).

10. Ishmael • Literally means “God has hearkened” • Suggesting that a child so named was regarded as the fulfillment of a divine prophecy • Born by Abraham and his wife’s servant Hagar son (but considered to be Sarah’s)

11. Ishmael in the Hebrew Bible • Sarah gives Abraham Hagar to bear a child with since she believes God is preventing her from having children (Gn 16:2) • Sarah treats Hagar harshly once she becomes pregnant • Hagar flees, and an angel comes to here in the desert (Gn 16), but the angel convinces her to come back.

12. Continued • Sarah becomes pregnant with Isaac, and once he is weaned Abraham throws a feast for him. • Sarah believes Ishmael is making fun of Isaac, and goes to try to convince Abraham • (Gn 21:8-10) • Abraham is worried greatly about what to do but God comes to him and say… (Gn 21:11-13) • In final resolution for his sons, God promises Abraham that (Gn 17)

13. Ishmael in Jewish Tradition • Generally viewed as wrong, but changes himself through repentance. • Ishmael is said to have been with his twelve sons roaming about their land looking for placing to dwell. • As they roamed, and more children where born to them fruitfully and abundantly

14. Ishmael in the New Testament • Ishmael and Hagar are expelled to ensure Isaac is the Abraham’s heir • In Galatians, Paul uses this incidents “to symbolize the relationship between Judaism, thee older now rejected tradition, and Christianity • Gal 4:21-31

15. Ishmael in Islam • Muslims believe that Ishmael was the son Abraham was to sacrifice. • Abraham was about to, but God stopped him at the last moment and praised him for his loyalty. • This is where Muslims get the tradition of sacrificing domestic animal on Eid ul-Adha • Ishmael is thought to be an appointed prophet

16. Isaac • Means “may God smile” • Only son of Abraham and Sarah • It was a miracle Isaac was born • Sarah was 90 and Abraham 100 years old

17. Isaac in Jewish Tradition • Jews believe Isaac was the son that Abraham was going to sacrifice • He is such an icon because his willingness to follow God at the cost of his life is a model for many Jews who prefer martyrdom rather that violation of Jewish law • As well, according to Jewish tradition Isaac was thought to institute afternoon prayer (Gn 24:63)

18. Isaac in the New Testament • Again, in Galatians, Paul contrasts Isaac as symbolizing Christianity and Ishmael as symbolizing Judaism • Jews view the release of Isaac for sacrifice as analogues to the resurrection of Jesus • (Hebrews 2:19)

19. Isaac in the Qur’an • He is a prophet in Islam • Born to Abraham and Sarah, despite their old age • Mentioned 15 times in the Qur’an • States that Abraham was to sacrifice as son, but never states specifically which one (Surah 37:99-113) • It was later believe that Isaac was not the chosen son, and Muslims greatly endorse that.

20. Abraham in Judaism • View Abraham as founding patriarch of religion and ethnic ancestor • Ethnically • Jews claim descent from ancient Israelites who trace history back to Abraham • Jacob and 12 tribes of Israel • Religiously • First to believe in only one God, post-flood • Smashes father’s pagan idols • Covenants • Genesis 15:1-21;17:1-27

21. Abraham in Christianity • Represented as a man of faith • The New Testament also sees Abraham as an obedient man of God, and Abraham's interrupted attempt to offer up Isaac is seen as the supreme act of perfect faith in God. • (Hebrews 11:17-19)

22. Abraham in Islam • Called Ibrahim in Arabic • Considered to be a Prophet • One of the first in the line of Adam & Noah (Nooh) • Father to the Prophets Ishmael (Ismail) and Isaac (Ishaq), and grandfather to the prophet Jacob (Yaqub) • Ancestor to Muhammad through his son Ishmael

23. Ibrahim in Islam • Muslim practices maintain that Ibrahim was born in Ur, to his father Terah (possibly Azar). • Young Ibrahim looked at the people of Ur and was upset by the idol worship of his ancestors and when he asks if they worship their own handiwork they try to burn him, but Allah protects him (Surah 37:95-99) • He then makes a hijrah, from the land of his fathers to the area of modern day Palestine.

24. Ibrahim and the Ka’bah • Taught that it was first built by Angels and Prophet Adam • The Qur’an (Surah 2:125-127)teaches that Ibrahim and Ismail rebuilt the Ka’bah, the first mosque and site for worshiping Allah in Islamic tradition. • Referred to as the “Station of Ibrahim” • The size of the Ibrahimic Foundation: • Eastern wall: 48.5 feet • Hateem side wall: 33 feet • Side from the black stone to the Yemeni corner: 30 feet • Western side: 46.5 feet

25. Ibrahim and the Five Pillars • Salah • At the completion of each of the daily prayers, Muslims pray for blessings upon Muhammad, Ibrahim and their people and followers. • For Sunni Muslims this means that Ibrahim is prayed for about 6,375,000 times a day (1,275,000 x 5) • For Shi’a Muslims this means that Ibrahim is prayed for about 675,000 times a day (225,000 x 3) • In total, the Muslim World gives praise to Ibrahim over seven million times a day. • Also while praying, Muslims face the Ka’bah in Makka.

26. Ibrahim and the Five Pillars • Hajj • The tradition of the pilgrimage to Makka has its roots with Ibrahim and Ismail’s rebuilding of the Ka’bah (Surah 22:26-27). • During Eid al-Adha, an animal sacrifice is performed to commemorate the Muslim belief that Ibrahim’s chosen son was Ismail, and his father was willing to sacrifice him at Allah’s command. • When Muslims make the Hajj, part of the ritual includes running the distance between Safa and Marwa (two hills close to the Ka’bah) seven times. • This is in remembrance of the sacrifice of Hagar (Hajira), Ibrahim’s concubine*, after she was cast out according to God’s reply for Ibrahim to please Sarah (Surah 14:36).

27. Ibrahim and the Five Pillars • Shahada, Zakat, Sawm • The ties to Ibrahim for these three pillars are less direct, but focus on the life and beliefs in the Prophet Muhammad, who was in the same line of Muslim Prophets as Ibrahim.

28. Hajira and Ismail • Briefly stated before, both were cast out at Sarah’s command. • Muslim belief teaches that the two were left in the valley of Makka, at Allah’s command to become the ancestors of modern day Arabs. • Tradition teaches (Hadith of Bukhari) that when they were left in the valley there was no water and Hajira ran between the two hills of Safa and Marwa seven times looking for water for Ismail. The Angel Jibreel came to her and revealed what is known today as the well of Zamzam, so that she and Ismail could drink and thrive for their unwavering faith in Allah.

29. Ismail • Ismail is regarded to be the ancestor of today’s Muslim (Arab) people. • Though he holds this title, he is mentioned very few times in the Qur’an itself, most of the Islamic history regarding Ismail is found in the Hadiths. • Even Muslim belief that Ismail is the chosen son of Abraham is not mentioned directly in the Qur’an, (Surah 37:100-107) which was cause for many arguments in early Islam. • Jewish tradition teaches that there were twelve sons/tribes of Ishmael, but in Islam references to these sons are vague at best.

30. Muslim and Jew Conflict • Interaction started in the 7th century CE with the origin and spread of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula • Both are considered Abrahamic religions • Both claim Abraham as a prophet and patriarch • As Islam spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula, large number of Jews came under Muslim rule • In many circumstances, Muslims and Jews have lived in peace under Islam rule • Islam allowed for Jews to be ruled by Jewish laws and to keep their synagogues and worship practices • However, there have also been many cases where Jews and Muslims have not lived in peace, and that has continued on throughout the ages

31. Abraham You-Tube Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UabYjhhzG4Q